The College of Staten Island has once again achieved a remarkable moment of scholarly distinction, as multiple members of its faculty have been named to the Stanford University–Elsevier “Top 2%” Scientists List for 2025, placing them among the most influential researchers in the world.

This prestigious annual ranking identifies scientists whose published work and citation impact place them in the top two percent of their respective fields globally. Compiled by Stanford University researchers and published by Elsevier through the Science-wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators, the study analyzes data from the Scopus database across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields.

The rankings are divided into two categories: Single-Year Impact, which highlights researchers with the greatest influence in the most recent year, and Career Impact, recognizing sustained scholarly achievement over a researcher’s entire career.

CSI’s Distinguished Faculty Honorees

The following CSI faculty have been recognized for their outstanding contributions across a broad spectrum of disciplines—from chemistry and physics to information technology and health sciences.

  • Dr. Michal Kruk — Physics and Astronomy (Chemical Physics / Materials)
    Appears in both Single-Year and Career categories for 2025 and is a multi-year recipient. His research in materials and chemical physics has earned high citation impact within its sub-field.
  • Dr. Li Ge — Physics and Astronomy (Optics / General Physics)
    Listed in Single-Year and Career categories across recent years for work in optics and general physics that continues to shape current research.
  • Dr. Sos S. Agaian — Information and Communication Technologies (Optoelectronics and Photonics / AI and Image Processing)
    Recognized in both Single-Year and Career lists, Dr. Agaian’s contributions to image processing, AI, and photonics are well cited internationally.
  • Dr. Maria Knikou — Clinical Medicine (Neurology and Neurosurgery / Rehabilitation)
    Appears in the Single-Year category for 2025. Her work in spinal cord injury, motor control, and rehabilitation is frequently cited in neuroscience and clinical research.
  • Dr. Abdeslem El Idrissi — Clinical Medicine (General and Internal Medicine / Neurology and Neurosurgery)
    Listed in both Single-Year and Career categories, Dr. El Idrissi’s research in neurobiology has sustained influence reflected in repeated listings.
  • Dr. Marianne R. Jeffreys — Public Health and Health Services (Nursing / Education)
    Appears across both lists in recent years for influential scholarship in nursing education and culturally competent care.
  • Dr. Vadim Oganesyan — Physics and Astronomy (Applied Physics / General Physics)
    Listed as a Single-Year honoree for 2025, Dr. Oganesyan’s research in quantum many-body physics and condensed matter is widely cited.
  • Dr. Vinay Anant Vaishampayan — Information and Communication Technologies (Networking and Telecommunications / AI and Image Processing)
    Recognized in the Career category for sustained impact in communications, coding theory, and signal processing.
  • Dr. Shuiqin Zhou — Chemistry (Polymers / Chemical Physics)
    Appears in the Career list, reflecting long-term citation influence in polymer chemistry and materials science.
  • Dr. Qiao Sheng Hu — Chemistry (Organic Chemistry / Polymers)
    Included as a Career honoree in the CSI compilation. Dr. Hu’s contributions in organic chemistry and polymer science are recognized across the literature.
  • Dr. Anatoly B. Kuklov — Physics and Astronomy (General Physics / Applied Physics)
    Appears in the Career listings (also recorded across multiple recent years). Dr. Kuklov’s theoretical work in general and applied physics has earned significant citation recognition.
  • Dr. Mark D. Feuer — Enabling and Strategic Technologies (Optoelectronics and Photonics / Optics)
    Listed as a Career honoree for 2025, with long-standing contributions in optics and photonics reflected in his citation record.
  • Dr. Shuqun Zhang — Enabling and Strategic Technologies (Optoelectronics and Photonics / Optics)
    Recognized in the Career list, Dr. Zhang’s work in photonics and optical materials and devices is widely cited in engineering and applied-physics literatures.
  • Dr. Barbara DiCicco-Bloom (Professor Emerita) — Public Health and Health Services (General and Internal Medicine / Nursing)
    Recognized in both Single-Year and Career lists, her long career of scholarship in nursing and health services has produced enduring, highly cited work.

Inclusion in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% list means a researcher’s citation impact, adjusted by field and authorship position, places them among the top percentile of their scientific peers. This recognition signals that a scholar’s publications are influencing ongoing research conversations worldwide—an important benchmark for both individual distinction and institutional reputation.

Recently, CSI’s Department of Science and Technology celebrated their honorees with a reception in the CSI Library. See the photo gallery below for highlights of the event: